CHICAGO - Thousands of people waited hours in line at O'Hare Airport customs on Saturday, apparently because of new coronavirus screening procedures, prompting the governor of Illinois to tweet, "the federal government needs to get its s@#t together. NOW."
Photos from inside the airport showed massive backups in the Federal Inspection Services facility.
Many people waiting in the line expressed dismay at being packed in with visitors from other countries, potentially sick ones, at a time when people are being told not to stand closer than six feet to anyone. The wait lasted anywhere from four to six hours, according to people in line sharing their experiences on Twitter.
"The federal government needs to get its s@#t together. NOW," wrote Gov. JB Pritzker on Twitter. "The crowds & lines O’Hare are unacceptable & need to be addressed immediately. @realDonaldTrump @VP since this is the only communication medium you pay attention to—you need to do something NOW. These crowds are waiting to get through customs which is under federal jurisdiction."
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot was also mincing no words when it came to this public health mess: "The reactionary, poorly planned travel ban has left thousands of travelers at ORD forced into even greater health risk.@realdonaldtrump and @CBP : no one has time for your incompetence. Fully staff our airport right now, and stop putting Americans in danger."
Governor JB Pritzker
To the frustrated people trying to get home, I have spoken with the mayor and our Senators and we are working together to get the federal government to act to solve this.
We will do everything within our power to get relief.
Governor JB Pritzker
✔@GovPritzker
The federal government needs to get its s@#t together. NOW.
9:50 PM - Mar 14, 2020
Right now at O’Hare airport in Chicago:
Thousands of people are waiting for hours due to “enhanced screening" procedures.
1,008
9:03 PM - Mar 14, 2020
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Late Saturday night, O'Hare officials said on their Twitter feed they were working with Chicago Police to distribute bottled water and snacks to travelers.
O'Hare also said that they have "strongly encouraged our federal partners to increase staffing to meet demand."
Mayor Lori Lightfoot
✔@chicagosmayor
This is unacceptable. The reactionary, poorly planned travel ban has left thousands of travelers at ORD forced into even greater health risk. @realdonaldtrump and @CBP: no one has time for your incompetence. Fully staff our airport right now, and stop putting Americans in danger. https://twitter.com/brookegmcdonald/status/1238986272137502720 …
Brooke Geiger McDonald@BrookeGMcDonald
This is the scene at O’Hare airport. The traveler who took the photo said it’s a 6-hour wait for bags then on to customs for 2-4 more of waiting in shoulder-to-shoulder crowds. Police are handing out water and disinfectant wipes. @fly2ohare #ord #coronavirus #COVID19
6,718
10:14 PM - Mar 14, 2020
O'Hare Intl. Airport
✔
· 9h
Attention travelers: customs processing is taking longer than usual inside the Federal Inspection Services (FIS) facility owing to enhanced #COVID19 screening for passengers arriving from Europe. Thank you for your patience.
O'Hare Intl. Airport
✔@fly2ohare
Thank you for your patience during a sensitive and rapidly evolving situation. We have strongly encouraged our federal partners to increase staffing to meet demand.
305
9:46 PM - Mar 14, 2020
Immigration official just informed us that we are waiting here because they are doing what the president wants. O'Hare has been the only issue. Paris and Heathrow were smooth. But here we are following instructions from a fool.
Donald attacks Lorie on Chicago's crime, violence and murder.
ReplyDeleteLori attacks Donald on O'Hare Airport.
This is what incompetent public officials do best.
Whats wrong with them. Cant they put politics aside and focus on the problem?
ReplyDeleteNo, because their egos and partisanships won't allow that.
DeleteOT: On the 19th Ward News Public Facebook Group, one man asked for a 19th Ward endorsements' list.
ReplyDeleteAnother man asked who he should he vote for, in the Cook County State's Attorney primary.
The endorsement list tells me who NOT to vote for.
DeleteHey, what's unacceptable to voters is the violence in the streets and the pandering you and that fat bastard in Springfield are foisting on the citizens of Illinois. You, Ms. Mayor enjoyed support in all reaches of the city while catering to specialized segments of the city. A three year old girl being sexually assaulted by a once deported but returned felon is beyond deplorable yet you adhere to the "welcoming city BS" while not bothering to hide your animosity towards the police department. You gave away the store to a threatened teacher walkout and they walked out anyway. So take your beady lemur eyes and your basketball forward first lady and plan your next career move because 2023 can't come soon enough. And maybe you and the governor can take your collective show on the road as the Shrimp and the Blimp.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the DOJ will soon get around to indicting Pritzker for fraudulently obtaining a $132,000 property tax refund check. Then he will know that the feds have their s*** together. You said it perfectly !
ReplyDeleteRemember when JJ Jr told the Fed's to bring it on? Be very careful with taunting and name calling fatso. Porky is probably in their crosshairs.
DeleteOUR GOVERNOR HAS GONE ROGUE, HE HAS DECLARED MARTIAL LAW BASICALLY. OUR GOD GIVEN RIGHTS ARE BEING RESTRICTED AND TAKEN AWAY. Sorry for all the caps but its true. This is a designed plan to control us and undermine and minimize President Trumps authority. The President needs to step in here and detain rogue politicians, restrict their rights.
ReplyDeleteAs businesses, bars and restaurants are covered by States' Rights.
DeleteWe've seen Lightfeets' accusations, finger pointing and chastisement for a little less than a year now but haven't seen anything come to fruition with regard to "her" plans to make the city safer and more livable. Blowing off deadbeats who don't pay their water bills doesn't offset the additional cost to the rest of us that do pay. Our property taxes continue to rise and the deficit in pension obligations continue to rise. So you and Tubby can't continue to gripe about Trump, but the city and state problems the two of you promised to solve are still there. And that "welcoming city" stuff for those foreign squatters living here illegally doesn't endear you to those of us who can legally vote. Those initial slap-downs of Burke as finance committee chairman and your petty disagreements with Preckwinkle doesn't reflect leadership, rather it shows you as petulant and unwilling to make compromises that more skilled politicians recognize as necessary to keep government and the city moving. Enjoy you stay while you can, the two of you, the next election isn't really that far off, we can suck it up for a couple more.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066769/
ReplyDeleteAmmo is life.....
ReplyDeleteWhy does the alderman keep texting me and telling me who I should vote for? It's really kind of insulting.
ReplyDeleteAsk the alderman "Are you hott?" :-)
Delete